Season number 2 for Jean-Pierre Rivère, but in reality, it is his first season as the true “boss” of the club; he joined the club in the middle of summer 2011 with a club to get to know and a “transfer window” already largely set up by his predecessor. Similarly, the Nice president had inherited a technical staff which, after an initial phase of good collaboration, did not turn out to be the one he desired, and, apart from the assistant coach Frédéric Gloria, it was not retained.
The arrival of a big name like Claude Puel as the sporting manager shows great ambition. But, as we know, the club’s finances do not allow for a relaunch with a well-endowed budget. Therefore, one has to demonstrate competence and imagination to recruit talented and economically affordable footballers.
And all this while waiting for the new Grand Stade, which one does not know whether to classify as a remedy for all woes or merely a mirage? Only the future will tell.
Jean-Pierre Rivère: “The choice of Claude concerning his staff belongs to him. As president, my role is to set up people based on their competence, availability, and economic constraints.”
Claude Puel: “Finally, even though there have been changes, my choices have not in any way called into question the tradition of a Nice culture within the management. Except for Alexandre Dellal, all the others were already at the club. We must work to give young people the potential to improve their standing. This is our challenge for the benefit of the club, which cannot financially afford the acquisition of star players and the players themselves, those who will come from other horizons and also those from our training, who will be able to join a project to their advantage.”
This conference was also the occasion to present the first recruits who will play with the red-black jersey next season. They are young players, out of contract (financial limitations, indeed!), promising but not yet confirmed, who have come to Nice, as they themselves declared in unison, to take a new step in their careers.
The sporting staff:
Claude Puel, general manager
Frédéric Gloria, assistant coach
Guy Mengual, assistant coach in charge of attackers
Alexandre Dellal, assistant coach in charge of physical preparation
Lionel Letizi, general coach of goalkeepers
